RAI cocktail winner announcement in May

The Irish Restaurant Awards’ Cocktail Competition was held in the Arrol Suite at the Guinness Storehouse recently.

Thirty-two competitors took part in eight different rounds and this year’s theme was ‘1916’. Competitors used the theme to create an original cocktail that doesn’t already exist on their present cocktail menu. Although the competitors battled it out in front of the judges, no winner was announced – yet.

The overall winner of the Ketel One Vodka ‘Best Cocktail Experience’ award will be announced on Monday 16^th May at the All Ireland Irish Restaurant Awards 2016 final which will be held in the DoubleTree Hilton in Ballsbridge, Dublin.

Last year’s winner was the Vintage Cocktail Club.

“With over 30 competitors, it’s one of the highest number of entrants we’ve had in any one year,” commented RAI Chief Exeutive Adrian Cummins, “The demand for cocktails within the restaurant sector has grown in recent years and it’s important that the industry recognises and meets this trend. Our cocktail competition highlights this market within the sector. It makes restaurateurs and mixologists get creative, away from their usual cocktail menus and produces some fantastic results.”

The RAI also announced that this year’s Official Charity Partner for the Awards is to be the Simon Community.

Last year the Awards raised €8,000 from guest donations which was divided between the Marie Keating Foundation and the RAI Benevolent Fund which will again be a joint benefactor of this year’s event.